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The Worst Episodes of 30 Rock

Every episode of 30 Rock ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of 30 Rock!

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Liz Lemon, the head writer for a late-night TV variety show in New York, tries to juggle all the egos around her while chasing her own dream.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    30 Rock Season 6 Episode 20 - Queen of Jordan II: Mystery of the Phantom Pooper
    6.5/10(4 votes)

    #1 - Queen of Jordan II: Mystery of the Phantom Pooper

    S6:E20

    Angie brings "Queen of Jordan'' back to TGS. News about Avery forces Jack to confront his feelings for her mother, and Liz finds herself in a feud.

    Director:Ken Whittingham
    Writers:Tracey Wigfield, Luke Del Tredici

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  2. 30 Rock Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    6.7/10(26 votes)

    #2 - Pilot

    S1:E1

    Liz Lemon is the head writer on a demanding, live TV program in New York City. However, things begin to get complicated when her new boss insists that a wild and unpredictable movie star joins the cast.

    Director:Adam Bernstein
    Writer:Tina Fey

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  3. 30 Rock Season 4 Episode 3 - Stone Mountain
    6.7/10(12 votes)

    #3 - Stone Mountain

    S4:E3

    Jack and Liz search for new talent as they travel to Kenneth's hometown. Jenna makes an attempt to become friends with the writers. Tracy fears he may die next after a pair of celebrities pass away.

    Director:Don Scardino
    Writer:John Riggi

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  4. 30 Rock Season 1 Episode 3 - Blind Date
    6.9/10(23 votes)

    #4 - Blind Date

    S1:E3

    Jack sets Liz up on a blind date with his friend, Thomas. While Liz is busy preparing for the date, Jack infiltrates the writers' weekly poker game.

    Director:Adam Bernstein
    Writers:John Riggi, Tina Fey

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  5. 30 Rock Season 7 Episode 2 - Governor Dunston
    6.9/10(15 votes)

    #5 - Governor Dunston

    S7:E2

    Jack and Liz find themselves at odds over political satire at "TGS". Criss and Liz make a surprising relationship breakthrough. Meanwhile, Jenna, discouraged by the disappointing sales of her summer dance hit, is thrilled to learn that Kenneth's mother and her boyfriend still buy music.

    Director:Robert Carlock
    Writer:Robert Carlock

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  6. 30 Rock Season 1 Episode 8 - The Break-Up
    7.1/10(20 votes)

    #6 - The Break-Up

    S1:E8

    When Liz finally dumps her boyfriend Dennis, she prowls the singles scene under Jenna's tutelage. Love also stinks for Jack, as he discovers dating a Bush administration official has its downside. And Tracy and Toofer clash, which lands both in sensitivity training.

    Directors:Adam Bernstein, Scott Ellis
    Writers:Brett Baer, Tina Fey, Dave Finkel

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  7. 30 Rock Season 4 Episode 12 - Verna
    7.2/10(5 votes)

    #7 - Verna

    S4:E12

    Jenna's mother comes to visit, and she looks to Jack to help. Frank moves in with Liz as a boarder, and they decide to aid one another stop some bad habits.

    Director:Don Scardino
    Writer:Ron Weiner

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  8. 30 Rock Season 1 Episode 6 - Jack Meets Dennis
    7.3/10(19 votes)

    #8 - Jack Meets Dennis

    S1:E6

    After Liz takes her ex-boyfriend, Dennis, back simply because he asks, Jack takes it upon himself to mentor her as he thinks that she is leading a life of mediocrity. Meanwhile, Tracy gets a tattoo in the face, Jenna gets botox and collagen injections, and Josh is given two black eyes by an angry Liz Taylor.

    Directors:Juan José Campanella, Don Scardino
    Writers:Jack Burditt, Robert Carlock

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  9. 30 Rock Season 2 Episode 12 - Subway Hero
    7.3/10(16 votes)

    #9 - Subway Hero

    S2:E12

    Dennis becomes a New York City celebrity after jumping in front of a train and saving someone who fell on the tracks. Meanwhile, Jack desperately tries to persuade Tracy to become the celebrity face of the Republican Party.

    Director:Don Scardino
    Writers:Jack Burditt, Robert Carlock

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  10. 30 Rock Season 1 Episode 4 - Jack the Writer
    7.4/10(20 votes)

    #10 - Jack the Writer

    S1:E4

    Liz struggles to keep Jack out of the writers' room and Kenneth soon learns that working for Tracy may be more than he expected.

    Directors:Gail Mancuso, Adam Bernstein
    Writers:John Riggi, Robert Carlock

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  11. 30 Rock Season 4 Episode 20 - The Moms
    7.4/10(5 votes)

    #11 - The Moms

    S4:E20

    Liz Lemon meets her mother's old flame, while Jack Donaghy's mother, Colleen, gets tangled in his relationships with Avery Jessup and high school love, Nancy Donovan. Jenna's mother, Verna returns, while Tracy learns a lesson from his "mom".

    Director:John Riggi
    Writers:Kay Cannon, Robert Carlock

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  12. 30 Rock Season 1 Episode 14 - The C Word
    7.5/10(16 votes)

    #12 - The C Word

    S1:E14

    As shocked as she is to be called the c-word by Lutz, Liz is more horrified to realize he may be right. Meanwhile, Jack brings Tracy to a charity golf event to get closer to the chairman, however his plan backfires when Tracy acts too much like his uncensored self.

    Director:Adam Bernstein
    Writer:Tina Fey

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  13. 30 Rock Season 2 Episode 7 - Cougars
    7.5/10(17 votes)

    #13 - Cougars

    S2:E7

    As part of his community service, Tracy must coach a little league team. All goes well until Jack takes interest in the team and turmoil starts from there. Meanwhile, Liz is asked out on a date by Jamie, the new coffee boy, who thinks Liz is actually younger than she truly is.

    Director:Michael Engler
    Writer:John Riggi

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  14. 30 Rock Season 4 Episode 10 - Black Light Attack!
    7.5/10(4 votes)

    #14 - Black Light Attack!

    S4:E10

    Jack tries to squash the burgeoning relationship between Liz and Danny. Tracy asks Sue to be in his entourage. Jenna tries out for Gossip Girl.

    Director:Don Scardino
    Writer:Steve Hely

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  15. 30 Rock Season 6 Episode 6 - Hey, Baby, What's Wrong? (1)
    7.5/10(4 votes)

    #15 - Hey, Baby, What's Wrong? (1)

    S6:E6

    Criss and Liz decide to celebrate Valentine's Day, but they need to buy a dining room table first. Jack entertains his mother-in-law, Diana, as Jenna frantically looks to Pete to fill in last-minute as the producer of her first live performance on "America's Kidz Got Singing." Back at the office, Tracy and Frank try to help Lutz find someone to spend Valentine's with.

    Director:Michael Engler
    Writer:Kay Cannon

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  16. 30 Rock Season 6 Episode 7 - Hey, Baby, What's Wrong? (2)
    7.5/10(4 votes)

    #16 - Hey, Baby, What's Wrong? (2)

    S6:E7

    Criss and Liz decide to celebrate Valentine's Day, but they need to buy a dining room table first. Jack entertains his mother-in-law, Diana, as Jenna frantically looks to Pete to fill in last-minute as the producer of her first live performance on "America's Kidz Got Singing." Back at the office, Tracy and Frank try to help Lutz find someone to spend Valentine's with.

    Director:Michael Engler
    Writer:Kay Cannon

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  17. 30 Rock Season 6 Episode 13 - Grandmentor
    7.5/10(4 votes)

    #17 - Grandmentor

    S6:E13

    Liz struggles in her new role as mentor to Hazel. Kenneth has a difficult time letting go of his page duties and takes drastic measures to make sure Tracy is taken care of. Meanwhile, Jack and Jenna come up with a plan to get Avery back in the headlines.

    Director:Beth McCarthy-Miller
    Writer:Sam Means

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  18. 30 Rock Season 6 Episode 15 - The Shower Principle
    7.5/10(4 votes)

    #18 - The Shower Principle

    S6:E15

    A curse strikes TGS. Liz dares to be different after realizing that the same things happen every year, and Jack vows to wow Hank Hooper.

    Director:Stephen Lee Davis
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. 30 Rock Season 6 Episode 21 - The Return of Avery Jessup
    7.5/10(4 votes)

    #19 - The Return of Avery Jessup

    S6:E21

    Avery finally returns home from her kidnapping ordeal in North Korea, yet Jack grows uncertain of her fidelity while she was away. Elsewhere, Criss is crossed due to Liz's role as top wage earner, and Jenna seeks a sponsor for her approaching nuptials.

    Director:John Riggi
    Writers:Josh Siegal, Dylan Morgan

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  20. 30 Rock Season 6 Episode 22 - What Will Happen to the Gang Next Year?
    7.5/10(4 votes)

    #20 - What Will Happen to the Gang Next Year?

    S6:E22

    Determined to prove his marriage has survived Avery's kidnapping unscathed, Jack asks Liz to officiate their vow renewal. Meanwhile, Criss tries to convince Liz that he's worth sticking around for. Tracy meets with Cornel West to discuss his influence as a black celebrity.

    Director:Michael Engler
    Writers:Tina Fey, Matt Hubbard

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  21. 30 Rock Season 7 Episode 1 - The Beginning of the End
    7.5/10(15 votes)

    #21 - The Beginning of the End

    S7:E1

    The "TGS" gang returning from hiatus, only to be shocked by Jack's awful fall programming lineup. Meanwhile, bridezilla Jenna taps Liz to be her maid of honor, and Tracy is invited to a dinner party by Kenneth and Hazel.

    Director:Don Scardino
    Writer:Jack Burditt

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  22. 30 Rock Season 7 Episode 5 - There's No I in America (2)
    7.5/10(15 votes)

    #22 - There's No I in America (2)

    S7:E5

    Realizing that Jenna could decide the Presidential election, Liz and Jack stage a debate to win her support and her followers. Kenneth turns to Tracy for advice on how to be an informed voter, while Pete tries to recreate the magic of the 2008 election.

    Director:John Riggi
    Writers:Josh Siegal, Dylan Morgan

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  23. 30 Rock Season 7 Episode 10 - Florida
    7.5/10(15 votes)

    #23 - Florida

    S7:E10

    When Jack persuades Liz to go to Florida with him, they make a shocking discovery about his mother. Jenna and Tracy assume responsibility for the show in Liz's absence, resulting in disaster for Kenneth.

    Director:Claire Cowperthwaite
    Writer:Matt Hubbard

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  24. 30 Rock Season 4 Episode 11 - Winter Madness
    7.6/10(5 votes)

    #24 - Winter Madness

    S4:E11

    Hoping to boost staffers' spirits, Liz takes TGS on the road, but Jack takes over for his own reasons, and the staff find reasons to blame Liz for all that's wrong in their lives.

    Director:Beth McCarthy-Miller
    Writer:Vali Chandrasekaran

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  25. 30 Rock Season 4 Episode 16 - Floyd
    7.6/10(5 votes)

    #25 - Floyd

    S4:E16

    Liz reevaluates her feelings for an old flame, Floyd, when he returns with big news, and Jack Donaghy teaches Danny Baker the finer points of pranks after the TGS writers play a trick on him. Jenna Maroney and Tracy Jordan see Kenneth Parcell in a disturbing new light after they spend a very long day listening to him tell stories about his childhood.

    Director:Millicent Shelton
    Writer:Paula Pell

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Queen of Jordan II: Mystery of the Phantom Pooper" is the worst rated episode of "30 Rock". It scored 6.5/10 based on 4 votes. Directed by Ken Whittingham and written by Tracey Wigfield, Luke Del Tredici, it aired on 5/3/2012. This episode scored 0.2 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Pilot".